Famed archaeologist Robert Grenier, who discovered the San Juan in Labrador, dead at 88

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Robert Grenier, an archaeologist known for pioneering underwater exploration, has died.

In the 1970s he led the discovery of the Basque whaling ship San Juan in Red Bay, Labrador, which had sunk in the area around 1565.

In a previous interview with the CBC Radio’s The Broadcast, he said exploring the wreck was an exciting experience.

“I felt with my hands like a magician just opening up a picture of the 16th century in Red Bay,” he said at the time.

Born in Trois-Rivières, Que. in 1937, Grenier completed a master’s degree in classics at Laval University and later joined Parks Canada. He would go on to become a pioneer in the nascent world of underwater archaeology.

According to his obituary, he died on Jan. 3 in Gatineau, Que. He was 88 years old.

A black and white photo of a man next to the ocean holding a rounded object in his hands. — In 1978, Grenier and his team began searching for the 16th century Basque wreck in Red Bay harbour. (Submitted by Parks Canada)

‘Not the Titanic’

Grenier said he first heard of the San Juan in 1974 after receiving a note from Selma Barkham who was doing archival research in Spain and believed the vessel had sunk somewhere in Red Bay’s harbour.

It was several years before Grenier acted on the tip, as he was in the middle of researching the British ship the HMS Sapphire in Bay Bulls, N.L.

But in 1978 his team headed to Red Bay and found the wreck of the San Juan, after only a few days of searching.

“It was not the Titanic, and there was no DiCaprio and his girlfriend on it, no name on it. People have a strange idea of shipwrecks, especially of that period. The wreck was in 25, 30 feet of water. It was on the slope near the shoreline of Saddle Island in Red Bay,” said Grenier.

Grenier said the vessel was well-preserved due to the cold, icy water of the North, with ice also pushing it into the mud.

A cover of a magazine of a man in scuba gear underwater holding something u-shaped. — In 1985, Grenier was featured on the cover of National Geographic for his work in Labrador. (National Geographic)

Red Bay town manager Keith Pike was 11 years old when the ship was found, and said he can remember Memorial University and Parks Canada officials “flooding” the community along with Grenier and his team.

“Not only did Robert do, you know, the … phenomenal work that he did here on that project, he was just a good person. He was a good human being, a kind person that treated everyone with respect,” said Pike.

The town held a moment of silence Tuesday night.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial archaeology office called Grenier a “figurehead in the world of underwater archaeology and underwater conservation.”

The survey of the San Juan wreck in Labrador helped in the construction of a replica vessel. (Jane Adey/CBC)

Grenier was the chief of Parks Canada’s underwater archaeology unit and was featured on the cover of National Geographic in 1985.

In the 1990s and 2000s, he led government-funded expeditions into Arctic waters to help find Sir John Franklin’s ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.

Grenier was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2004 and was the chair of an UNESCO scientific committee on the protection of underwater cultural heritage.

The survey of the San Juan wreck helped enable the building of a replica, which launched in November and will set sail for Labrador in 2027.

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